CALABASAS, Calif., Dec. 16 — The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced today that Steve Wadsworth, President of Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) will keynote the D.I.C.E. Summit, which will take place at Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas, on February 17-19, 2010.

After Harriet Burns — the first female Walt Disney Imagineer — passed away in July 2008, daughter Pam Burns-Clair received such an outpouring of love complete with colorful stories of her mother from family and friends, both personal and professional, that she decided to create a tribute book. Together with co-author Don Peri, they solicited and received many more stories about Harriet and they all are gathered in Walt Disney’s First Lady of Imagineering, Harriet Burns along with many photos of Harriet not yet seen by the public.

Through this limited edition hard cover, coffee-table style book, you will discover the range and depth of Harriet’s impact on those lives she touched whether as a mother, grandmother, relative, mentor, co-worker or friend. The stories will bring a smile or a tear (or more likely both) and will contribute to an understanding and appreciation of this tiny woman with a heart as big as her native Texas.

Not too long ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios released (domestically) the Japanese trailer of The Princess and the Frog on the internet. Cranking the coolness factor up to just a tad past 11, a new mash-up (and slightly extended) version of the trailer is now available which features meshes the trailer together in Russian, Spanish, German, French, Hebrew, Italian, Greek, Icelandic and Ukranian in addition to Japanese and English. How does one say bravo in Italian?

Burbank, CA (December 16, 2009) – Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, the fifth installment from the popular global hit movie franchise, starring Grammy®-nominated recording star and actress Christina Milian, will make its television premiere on ABC Family on Sunday, January 17 (8:00PM-10:00PM ET/PT). Turning the day into a BRING-IT-ON-A-THON, viewers can catch “Bring It On” from 2:00-4:00PM ET/PT, “Bring It On: In It to Win It” from 4:00-6:00PM ET/PT and “Bring It On: All or Nothing” from 6:00-8:00PM ET/PT.

The application period for the 2010 Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants is now underway through February 4, 2010. Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants recognize those who commit their time and talent to making a difference in the lives of Central Florida’s children. Non-profit organizations in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and Lake Counties are eligible to apply and must offer programs that focus on children in one or more of Disney’s focus areas: connecting with adults, constructive use of free time, character development and compassion.

The LA Times has reported that Roy Edward Disney, son of Roy Oliver Disney and nephew to Walter Elias Disney, born January 10, 1930, has died just a few weeks shy of what would have been his 80th birthday, presumably related to his cancer.

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar®-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

UPDATE: We now have a hi-res version of the artwork. Check it out here!

Through a recent promotion on its TRON Facebook page, Walt Disney Studios offered up ten fans selected at random to receive the following promotional image for the upcoming film which happens to be very scaled down billboard art.

The chosen few were given a link to the image (shown below in its entirety when you click on the smaller version) and asked to share the link which several have, although it appears to be the single image below.

Adventures by Disney, named the World’s Best Luxury Tour Operator by the 2009 World Travel Awards, and Disney Cruise Line announced today a special add-on option for a series of Mediterranean cruises in 2010 that will combine the best of both Disney vacations to create a one-of-a-kind family vacation experience at sea and on shore. Featuring Adventures by Disney’s expertise in guided travel across the world and the magic of a Disney Cruise Line voyage, guests participating in this new vacation offering can enjoy onboard activities and unique shore experiences that immerse each member of the family in the cultures and sights of this European region.

This limited-time product offering may be booked now for 10- and 11-night Disney Cruise Line Mediterranean vacations on the following departure dates: May 5, 15, 26; August 7, 18, 28 and September 8.

“This new product brings the best of both Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line to families interested in the ultimate Mediterranean experience,” said Karl Holz, President of Disney Cruise Line & New Vacation Operations. “Visiting some of Europe’s most captivating destinations, the trip is designed to ensure that the guest’s only agenda is to soak up the culture, relax and have fun in the Mediterranean.”

The Walt Disney Company has just registered a series of domain names whose names imply that they’re intended for use with the recently announced ‘Keychest’ technology in which a subscriber can purchase rights to a Disney film and then watch it on-demand via any Keychest-accessible client, including PCs via the internet and on mobile phones.

Although it’s likely that some (or most (or even all)) of the names may not be put into effect, it’s a good sign that the company is furthering its plans to bring the digital locker to fruition. The names registered include: DISNEYDIGITALLOCKER.COM, DISNEYLOCKER.COM, DISNEYONLINEMOVIES.COM, DISNEYPLAYER.COM, DISNEYSTUDIOMOVIES.COM, DISNEYVAULTONLINE.COM, MYDISNEYMOVIESONLINE.COM, MYDISNEYONLINEMOVIES.COM, MYDISNEYVAULT.COM, WALTDISNEYMOVIESONLINE.COM and WATCHDISNEYONLINE.COM.